Thai-Inspired Turkey Lettuce Wraps (Larb) {Gluten-Free}

by Dorothy Reinhold on April 9, 2021


Print This Post Print This Post Thai Turkey Lettuce Wraps feature ground turkey flavored with fish sauce, soy sauce and lime juice, freshened with herbs and stuffed into a lettuce leaf for a low-carb meal.  Serve it as a rice bowl for a heartier dinner.

Thai Turkey Lettuce Wraps feature ground turkey flavored with fish sauce, soy sauce and lime juice, freshened with herbs and stuffed into a lettuce leaf for a low-carb meal.  Serve it as a rice bowl for a heartier dinner.

Some people eat turkey once a year (and you already know what day they pick for that!).

Here in Southern California, we eat turkey all year ’round, in…

…and whatever other ways we fancy.

These days I’m really excited about turkey in rice bowls, and turkey in lettuce wraps (fewer carbs), and Thai flavors, so I put those ideas all together into my latest creation – Thai-Inspired Turkey Lettuce Wraps.

Thai lettuce wrap on a white plate on a white counterIt’s a bit like larb, the traditional Southeast Asian dish made from minced meat flavored with fish sauce, lime juice, spices and lots of fresh herbs. But my version might not be so much authentic as it is a hint o’ larb, so let’s call it Thai-ish Larb, shall we, so we don’t step on any toes?

Whatever you call it, it’s a very fast and fresh tasting after-work meal, and you’ll have dinner on the table in less than half an hour.

How to make Thai Turkey Lettuce Wraps

ingredients-for-thai-inspired-turkey-lettuce-wraps-laid out on a white counterGather your ingredients. You could sub ground chicken if you want to; I won’t tell.

For me, this is all about the toppings and garnishes. I’m suggesting 7 toppings and garnishes with it, so people can personalize their own dish. Here at Shockingly Delicious HQ, where we relish a fusion of flavors, I like them ALL on it, every last one. I know some people who would rather starve than have a cilantro leaf touch their turkey lettuce wrap, so serving the garnishes on the side helps the foodies and the fearful remain separate but equal.

thai-inspired-turkey-lettuce-wraps in a white bowl on a white counterFor heartier eaters, you can serve it in a bowl with rice, instead of a hand-held lettuce leaf.

Let’s eat!

Thai-Inspired Turkey Lettuce Wraps

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 7 minutes

Total Time: 25 minutes

Yield: Serves 4.

Thai-Inspired Turkey Lettuce Wraps

Ground turkey punched up with fish sauce, soy sauce and lime juice, freshened with a trio of just-cut herbs, stuffs a lettuce leaf nicely for a low-carb meal. Serve it as a rice bowl for a heartier dinner.

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon olive or vegetable oil
  • 1 pound organic ground turkey
  • 2 garlic cloves, pressed
  • 1 tablespoon finely minced fresh ginger
  • 2 green scallions, chopped (both white and green parts)
  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar
  • 2 tablespoons tamari or soy sauce
  • 2 teaspoons fish sauce
  • 1 teaspoon chile garlic sauce (or sub another hot sauce, like Tabasco or sriracha)
  • .
  • Garnishes
  • Quick Pickled Onions (see linked recipe, or see note below)
  • 2 green scallions, chopped
  • 2 limes, cut into wedges
  • Fresh cilantro, chopped
  • Fresh basil, leaves torn
  • Fresh mint, chopped
  • Carrot shreds (optional)
  • Steamed white or brown rice (if you are making a rice bowl type dinner)
  • Lettuce leaves (Bibb, Butter, Romaine, even iceberg lettuce leaves all work fine)

Directions

  1. Heat the oil in a large nonstick skillet. Add ground turkey and cook for a minute, stirring once or twice. Add garlic and ginger. Cook until the turkey is cooked through (it will no longer be pink). Stir in scallions, brown sugar, tamari, fish sauce and chile garlic sauce. Cook until the liquid in the skillet is almost completely reduced, stirring frequently, another minute or 2. Remove skillet from heat.
  2. To serve as lettuce wraps: Spoon the warm turkey onto a lettuce leaf, garnish the heck out of it with everything on the list, enclose and eat!
  3. To serve as rice bowls: Place steamed rice, some turkey and some lettuce leaves in a wide, shallow dinner bowl. Garnish the heck out of it with everything on the list, and dig in!
  4. Serves 4.

Notes

Quick Pickled Onions: Follow my linked recipe or make a super-fast version by simply slicing ½ a red onion thinly (into half or quarter moons), put them in a small jar and pour some rice vinegar over them. Give the jar a shake every couple of minutes while you are getting dinner ready. Voila! Strain onions out of the vinegar to serve.

Recipe source: Dorothy Reinhold | Shockingly Delicious

https://www.shockinglydelicious.com/thai-turkey-lettuce-wraps/

pin this please!Pin this recipe for Thai Turkey Lettuce Wraps to your Pinterest board to save itlow-carb-thai-inspired-turkey-lettuce-wraps-held in the palm of a hand

…or pin this one, below.

thai turkey rice bowl in a white bowl on a white counter with bright vegetables on top

What is YOUR best recipe using ground turkey? Tell me in the comments below. I’d love to make it!

This post was originally published Oct. 18, 2016 and has been refreshed and republished today.

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{ 22 comments… read them below or add one }

allie October 25, 2016 at 5:57 am

Gorgeous lettuce wraps Dorothy – love all these complex flavors and the ground turkey!!! Healthy and delicious.

Reply

Nicole October 24, 2016 at 9:50 am

I eat turkey year round too! These wraps look fantastic!

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Taylor @ Food Faith Fitness October 24, 2016 at 6:49 am

Larb gai is my favorite thing to order when we go out for Thai, and these remind me of that! Can’t wait to try them!

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Dorothy Reinhold October 24, 2016 at 9:48 am

Taylor,
This larb would be great in baby bok choy leaf cups, too!

Reply

DessertForTwo October 22, 2016 at 5:34 am

Yum! These sound so good!

Reply

Maryanne | the little epicurean October 20, 2016 at 11:17 pm

I’d pick this lettuce wrap over salad any day! Looks great!

Reply

Rony Jahid October 20, 2016 at 11:11 pm

Perfect meal for perfect lunch. I really like your healthy ingredients. I want to eat this food soon.

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Krista October 20, 2016 at 8:19 pm

Light, healthy, delicious, and gluten free! Yes Please!

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Angie | Big Bear's Wife October 20, 2016 at 8:47 am

I love Thai-Inspired meals like this! I would love to have something like this for lunch while I’m at the office.

Reply

Dorothy Reinhold October 20, 2016 at 8:59 am

Angie,
It makes an easy lunch. Just pack the turkey in one container and some bibb lettuce leaves in another. Done!

Reply

Helen @ Fuss Free Flavours October 20, 2016 at 8:00 am

That looks like a lovely free range and organic brand – minced turkey is such a good ingredient – I love these wraps, delicious, but also really light.

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cathy pollak October 20, 2016 at 7:38 am

A favorite low carb meal!

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swayam October 20, 2016 at 7:28 am

Love these!! I actually had a chicken lettuce wrap on my trip to Thailand. So so good!

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Jenny | Honey and Birch October 20, 2016 at 7:00 am

Lettuce wraps are one of my favorite lunches – I am looking forward to trying this thai turkey version.

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Emily October 20, 2016 at 6:55 am

These look so healthy and delicious!

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Shumaila October 20, 2016 at 6:42 am

Love lettuce wraps, and these with turkey look great!

Reply

Raia October 20, 2016 at 6:29 am

These sound delicious! I love Thai food and lettuce wraps are a wonderful way to cut down on carbs.

Reply

Sabrina October 19, 2016 at 9:26 pm

I love how healthy and delicious this looks! Definitely going to be having this for lunch next week!

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Sandi G October 19, 2016 at 7:41 pm

I love Foster Farms. What a fun recipe to try…my kids will love this.

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Heather October 19, 2016 at 5:46 pm

I absolutely love this meal!! Both ways you serve it look delicious

Reply

roadstokitchen October 19, 2016 at 2:22 pm

I love this type of meal, so healthy and packed with flavor!

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SallyBR October 19, 2016 at 8:05 am

This has my name written all over it! I have this type of meal for lunch quite often, so any different take is more than welcome!

Reply

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